I use heat on my hair during deep conditioning and that doesn't do a thing so I'm not sure if I'll bother going to a salon for steam treatments. And co-washing I'm considering. I actually might get the coconut co-washing thing. Is that a good product?

Originally Posted by NewlyNaturalG

I think the coconut cowash works really good it doesn't have any sulfates or silicones and it helps prevent buildup in my hair between shampoos.

And steamers are different from just applying heat when deep conditioning because it helps penetrate the hair shaft with water instead of dry heat. I know deep conditioners didn't do much for my hair when it was relaxed nor when I was natural with or without heat. It wasn't until I started getting steam treatments that I actually saw a difference with moisture in my hair. I mean its worth a shot seeing as how nothing else has seemed to work and salons typically charge between $20-$40 to get it done.

I hope you find something that works because i know first hand how horrible dry hair can be. I was at my wits end quite a few times dealing with how brittle and rough my hair was that I too thought only going back to a relaxer would help me manage my hair and not leave it so dry, but I'm glad I didn't.

Don't give up though I'm sure your solution is out there

Originally Posted by Nessa31787

I wanted to save up for a Heautiful Hair Steamer but I found my dryer and thought that'd be okay. And after a few weeks of trying this CG method I'll see if I still need the professional help. I still might get a steamer of my own though. Thank you! I also heard hairfinity pills do wonders for some peoples hair so I'm considering that too!

Originally Posted by NewlyNaturalG

Yea hair pills do work. I was taking nutralite for hair skin and nails and they did help my hair grow faster. Biotin supplements work too if you want to go a generic route. And there are homemade ways you can do steam treatments here's a link if you want to experiment.

Well, no, I'm not saying that just plain water soaking would help. Why do you think cowashing daily would be bad on your hair exactly? If you have dry coarse hair, it needs more moisture. To do that, you're going to need to condition it a lot more often than its currently getting. I have low porosity hair that is resistant to deep conditioning too, but I've found that the daily lighter conditioning helps it, as does steam deep conditioning. I don't have a steamer, but I wrap a hot, wet towel around it for about thirty minutes.

Basically the bottom line is with your hair being dry and unmanageable, it needs more moisture and it just sounds like your current routine isn't giving it quite the moisture it needs. Hair loses moisture, so a daily cowash (which is just a daily condition basically) would help dramatically.

Originally Posted by Luuuuucy

As for deep treatments, with dry hair, have you tried any oils? An overnight olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil treatment might be just what your hair wants, rather than protein.

Originally Posted by Luuuuucy

Co washing is also suppose to cleanse the hair from dirt and build up as well, right? But because my 4b-4c hair doesn't build up as quickly as say a 2a-2b head of hair would, co-washing might get rid of the natural oils I need instead. And oils don't work for me really, My hair rejects everything it seems. Do you think daily co-washing will make my hair not feel like plastic and will help it receive product? I'm still not sure if I even have low porosity hair because my hair does sink when I completely submerge it in water. However, I do notice that there are like bubbles that form around my hair strand. I'm not too sure what that means. I heard that happens in low porosity hair. Also, what co-washing product would you recommend?

Yea hair pills do work. I was taking nutralite for hair skin and nails and they did help my hair grow faster. Biotin supplements work too if you want to go a generic route. And there are homemade ways you can do steam treatments here's a link if you want to experiment.

Cowashing will remove dirt but it won't strip the natural oils. That's really the whole point. You don't have to scrub the roots, but you need more moisture and a daily condition will help that.

All I'm saying is that with dry hair, you're going to add more moisture than once very few weeks, and in addition, you are cruelly not using conditioner of any kind right now, you're just using a protein treatment. You need a lot of moisture to balance it out, that's actually working against you and making it worse.

I've not tried hairfinity, but I personally would try a few simple measures to add moisture before the expense of the pills. It really sounds from your description and your routine that your hair is just very dry.

Curly work in progress
2C with some 3A if all the stars align
Low porosity, medium to low density and fine
No sulfates since 2009
CG since 2013

Yea hair pills do work. I was taking nutralite for hair skin and nails and they did help my hair grow faster. Biotin supplements work too if you want to go a generic route. And there are homemade ways you can do steam treatments here's a link if you want to experiment.

Cowashing will remove dirt but it won't strip the natural oils. That's really the whole point. You don't have to scrub the roots, but you need more moisture and a daily condition will help that.

All I'm saying is that with dry hair, you're going to add more moisture than once very few weeks, and in addition, you are cruelly not using conditioner of any kind right now, you're just using a protein treatment. You need a lot of moisture to balance it out, that's actually working against you and making it worse.

I've not tried hairfinity, but I personally would try a few simple measures to add moisture before the expense of the pills. It really sounds from your description and your routine that your hair is just very dry.

Originally Posted by Luuuuucy

So dryness could cause my hair hair to have that squeaky feeling too? As well as a lot of resistance and my hair not being able to accept product?

When you say it doesn't accept product, what do you mean? Have you messed around with a lot of different ways, ie, soaking wet, damp, changing the types f products you use?
As for not accepting treatments, lots of hair doesn't like oil so that doesn't surprise me. I can only use a few drops of a handful of oils- my hair rejects most of them.
And like someone said earlier, I see results you're going to have to really use a routine repeatedly. I didn't notice a difference until I had been conditioning almost daily and deep conditioning twice a week for about a month. Then my hair calmed down.
No matter what your hair type, your current routine just doesn't sound like its getting enough (or any) moisture. It's getting protein, but not good moisture. Even if your hair isn't protein sensitive, without a good moisture balance, it's going to eventually build up and make your hair a little angry.

When you say it doesn't accept product, what do you mean? Have you messed around with a lot of different ways, ie, soaking wet, damp, changing the types f products you use?
As for not accepting treatments, lots of hair doesn't like oil so that doesn't surprise me. I can only use a few drops of a handful of oils- my hair rejects most of them.
And like someone said earlier, I see results you're going to have to really use a routine repeatedly. I didn't notice a difference until I had been conditioning almost daily and deep conditioning twice a week for about a month. Then my hair calmed down.
No matter what your hair type, your current routine just doesn't sound like its getting enough (or any) moisture. It's getting protein, but not good moisture. Even if your hair isn't protein sensitive, without a good moisture balance, it's going to eventually build up and make your hair a little angry.

Originally Posted by Luuuuucy

Like, nothing works on my hair. Product don't really work. I'm going to use the CG method for a month and hopefully I'll see results. I'm going to cowash with As I Am Coconut Cowash. I will also deep condition with Aussie's 3 minute miracle. I've never used these products but I've heard good things about them though I'm pretty sure they contain bad things like silicons and such.

Which I stumbled on early in my CG journey and really enlightened me. (I love me some science.) It might sound funny but I do check the PH balance of my products (also the ingredients to ensure they're sulfate/silicone free) and as such my hair has been very predictable. Also, if you haven't checked out livecurlylivefree and read everything on the site yet I recommend it. The key to getting the hang of your hair is reading as much as you can:

You could send your hair in for an analysis if you want to be certain of your properties. I did and it helped. It turns out I have coarse hair which was a surprise. I assumed I was medium texture. But it makes sense. I always have to be one step ahead of my hair to keep it moisturized. The arid climate does not help. So what I do is I co-wash every other day or every third day. Depends on my exercise schedule but usually it's on day on, one day off. (You can definitely go longer between co-washes. I realize we have completely different curl patterns but if you're coarse. . .) Once a week I use a low poo on the scalp and I go with Shea Moisture products there bc they're the gentlest shampoos you can find. (Oh and As I am coconut Co-wash is amazing though. I highly recommend that.) Before I wash I tend to glide some oil over my curls to protect them. I recommend coconut or avocado oil for this. Olive is great too though. Also, you probably need to add moisture into your hair daily if not every other day. Every day when I wake up I wet my hair with a bit of water and smooth on some leave in conditioner in order to refresh. That keeps my hair hydrated and these days I'm good to go. Speaking of hydration, the hair vitamins and pills are probably great, but be sure you're getting enough water. 8 servings of at least 8 ounces a day. I second FSG as a natural styling product to keep your curls defined and your hair hydrated. Here is a fabulous video I found on that recently:

Which I stumbled on early in my CG journey and really enlightened me. (I love me some science.) It might sound funny but I do check the PH balance of my products (also the ingredients to ensure they're sulfate/silicone free) and as such my hair has been very predictable. Also, if you haven't checked out livecurlylivefree and read everything on the site yet I recommend it. The key to getting the hang of your hair is reading as much as you can:

You could send your hair in for an analysis if you want to be certain of your properties. I did and it helped. It turns out I have coarse hair which was a surprise. I assumed I was medium texture. But it makes sense. I always have to be one step ahead of my hair to keep it moisturized. The arid climate does not help. So what I do is I co-wash every other day or every third day. Depends on my exercise schedule but usually it's on day on, one day off. (You can definitely go longer between co-washes. I realize we have completely different curl patterns but if you're coarse. . .) Once a week I use a low poo on the scalp and I go with Shea Moisture products there bc they're the gentlest shampoos you can find. (Oh and As I am coconut Co-wash is amazing though. I highly recommend that.) Before I wash I tend to glide some oil over my curls to protect them. I recommend coconut or avocado oil for this. Olive is great too though. Also, you probably need to add moisture into your hair daily if not every other day. Every day when I wake up I wet my hair with a bit of water and smooth on some leave in conditioner in order to refresh. That keeps my hair hydrated and these days I'm good to go. Speaking of hydration, the hair vitamins and pills are probably great, but be sure you're getting enough water. 8 servings of at least 8 ounces a day. I second FSG as a natural styling product to keep your curls defined and your hair hydrated. Here is a fabulous video I found on that recently:

Thank you for all the info! I'll try to add moisture daily I'm still figuring out what products to use. My diet is not good at all that's why I'm considering vitamins. So nope, I don't drink enough water. MY diet is also something I need to change. Thank you again for the links!

Which I stumbled on early in my CG journey and really enlightened me. (I love me some science.) It might sound funny but I do check the PH balance of my products (also the ingredients to ensure they're sulfate/silicone free) and as such my hair has been very predictable.

Originally Posted by dusalocks

Wow, Dusalocks, I just watched those and found them so useful. Thank you so much for posting them. So when it comes to making your hair more predictable what is your ph strategy? From the video it seems like she is suggesting stay in the range of 4.5 (or 4) to 7 to avoid damage. But that staying with 4.5 to 5.5 may be good for leave in products. Is that kind of what you do, or are there other tips?

I love to be taught

UK based wavy

Mostly waves, but curls and straight bits too!
Fine to medium, high porosity, medium density, very low elasticity
Highlights damage (growing it out), seems to like protein and need lots of moisture.

I found the links and they're below. You probably already know the blog but if not it is a good one especially if you like 'the science bit'! Just keep in mind that I believe is it British based, so one of two of the products might have different formulations in the Uk, not sure which versions she is referring to. ETA -actually looking at the lists looks to me like mainly US brands/versions. I think she contacted manufacturers to request ph value, and self tested some.

You're welcome! Glad you liked them. Those are the same links I refer to screen products, although I do have some PH testing strips. I try to stay within the 4-5.5 range for leave ins and gellies. It's the ideal anyways. I make an exception for SM's curl enhancing smoothie which if memory serves me is a 6 and KCKT which is a 7. But I steer clear of anything outside the 4-7 range. My friend who is trying to get into natural haircare bought some Dr. Bronner's soap and was washing her hair with it and it reacted very badly. Oily at the roots, dry everywhere else. So I told her most of those soaps are ridiculously high on the PH scale and she'd probably freaked her poor hair out. I also recommended she go get a low poo. And most sulfate free shampoos are PH balanced anyways. Anything but that. Geez.

I hear GVP has no slip and will just sit on your hair (which is what all products do to my hair anyway). But the As I Am Coconut Cowash is still good right?

Originally Posted by NewlyNaturalG

Hmmm, well, firstly, don't be so quick to assume it might not work for you because that product does seem to work for a lot of people with varying properties. Even low porosity ones, which it sounds like you might be. That said, I haven't tried the GVP and don't plan to bc of the paraben content. I have tried As I Am and for me it has fantastic, I mean, fantastic slip. The only reason I've stopped using it as of late is because while my hair adores it, my scalp is sensitive to a preservative it contains. But I'd have no qualms about buying and using it again. I'd just apply it to the body of the hair, not the scalp.

I hear GVP has no slip and will just sit on your hair (which is what all products do to my hair anyway). But the As I Am Coconut Cowash is still good right?

Originally Posted by NewlyNaturalG

Hmmm, well, firstly, don't be so quick to assume it might not work for you because that product does seem to work for a lot of people with varying properties. Even low porosity ones, which it sounds like you might be. That said, I haven't tried the GVP and don't plan to bc of the paraben content. I have tried As I Am and for me it has fantastic, I mean, fantastic slip. The only reason I've stopped using it as of late is because while my hair adores it, my scalp is sensitive to a preservative it contains. But I'd have no qualms about buying and using it again. I'd just apply it to the body of the hair, not the scalp.

Originally Posted by dusalocks

I also don't want to use products with too many bad ingredients. I tried the whole "all natural" thing and that didn't work. But since no product worked that's why I'm considering using products like the Coconut Cowash. So if GVP has bad really bad ingredients I don't think I'll use it. And woah a cowash you can't put on your scalp? What do you use to clean it?